Should he win a fresh mandate in the Senate in the coming May 2022 elections, former senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said he will file the bill seeking to create a comprehensive infrastructure master plan as his first bill.
Ejercito said such measure would not be coterminous with any administration.
“Isa sa mga adbokasiya ko ay (Those are my advocacies) infrastructure development and transport organization,” Ejercito said in a recent interview.
“Ang balak ko ay ifile yung (I plan to file a) Comprehensive Master Plan na talagang susundin for infrastructure development na kahit sino po ang Pangulo, ito po ang blueprint na susundin (which any President can follow for a infrastructure development and it would serve as the blueprint to follow),” he added.
The former lawmaker said having a long-term plan for the country’s infrastructure program will encourage growth in rural areas and which is needed to encourage the economy in provinces to thrive.
“Iyon ang kailangan natin para maspread out yung development sa mga probinsya at mas lalong sumigla ang ekonomiya natin (That is what we need to spread out development in the provinces and to strengthen our economy),” he said.
Ejercito, likewise, lauded President Duterte for launching the Build, Build Build program, which sought to address the country’s backlogs in infrastructure.
“Swerte nalang natin si Pangulo Duterte, nagkaroon ng political will na ituloy ang mga infrastructure development, na kahit hindi abutin ng termino niya, itutuloy (We’re lucky because President Duterte had the political will to pursue infrastructure development even if he cannot finish his term, he will continue it),” Ejercito said.